A hedge fund manager who swindled Silicon Valley investors out of millions with promises of 20 to 30 percent returns and false claims of prominent support was sentenced Monday to 12 years in federal prison.

Albert Ke-Jeng Hu, 51, was convicted by a jury in June of seven counts of wire fraud. Operating out of offices in San Francisco, Sunnyvale and Singapore from 2002 to 2008, he targeted Chinese American businesses, telling them he had more than $200 million, was connected to prominent law firms and was overseen by an independent auditor, prosecutors said.

Prosecutors said the victims lost $6.5 million. They recommended a 19 1/2-year sentence.

Defense lawyers requested a five-year sentence, saying Hu, a former San Jose State University professor, has learned his lesson and has worked with a jailhouse visitor, a fellow engineer, on new solar technology for which they have applied for patents.

Hu has been in custody since March 2009, when he was extradited from Hong Kong. He was sentenced Monday by U.S. District Judge Ronald Whyte of San Jose.